Not working on Windows.

[danfiscus]

• I've verified and I assure that I'm running youtube-dl 2016.05.16
• At least skimmed through README and most notably FAQ and BUGS sections
• Searched the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones

What is the purpose of your issue?

• Bug report (encountered problems with youtube-dl)
• Site support request (request for adding support for a new site)
• Feature request (request for a new functionality)
• Question
• Other

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If the purpose of this issue is a bug report, site support request or you are not completely sure provide the full verbose output as follows:

Add -v flag to your command line you run youtube-dl with, copy the whole output and insert it here. It should look similar to one below (replace it with your log inserted between triple ```):

C:\Users\Dan Fiscus>youtube-dl -v https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOILpU4GXXw
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\py2exe\boot_common.py", line 92, in <module>
ImportError: No module named linecache
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<install zipextimporter>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: No module named zipextimporter
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "__main__.py", line 2, in <module>
ImportError: No module named __future__

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Description of your issue, suggested solution and other information

I downloaded the .exe file and put it in my path and that is what happens when I run it. I have installed Python. I tried this on two different computers and I have had the same problem with both. Both are running Windows 10.

[yan12125]

Duplicate of #8397, though nobody knows the exact cause yet.

I have installed Python.

Could you try again without an installed Python? youtube-dl.exe comes with Python and the system Python may confuse it.

[danfiscus]

@yan12125 I apologize for the late response, I couldn't get my laptop working last night so I had to wait until I had access to another Windows machine. Without installing Python, I get the exact same error message.

[yan12125]

If it's not related to Python maybe it's related to #2919. Do you have Cyrillic characters (or other non-ASCII characters) in the path?

[danfiscus]

@yan12125 How do I find that out?

[yan12125]

For example in #2919:

C:\Users\Минка\Desktop>

The username contains Cyrillic characters, which causes youtube-dl to fail.

[danfiscus]

@yan12125 No, my home folder is just Dan

[yan12125]

Definitely strange. I'm afraid I can't help more as I can't reproduce it.

[yan12125]

Also related: #3065 - youtube-dl.exe fails to start if placed in \Windows\system32.

[danfiscus]

@yan12125 I have the binary placed in that folder, since the installation guide only says to put it in the "path" and I am somewhat new to windows after spending years on mac, so I just Googled path folders and put it in that one. Where should I place it?

[yan12125]

@phihag's tutorial is useful: #3065 (comment)